Motivation, Innovation and Creativity unite @ WDS.
Because every superhero has an origin story.
Leap of Faith for Arts, Sciences & Education Graduates
Audre Lorde + Breast Cancer = Creative Trespassing.
What if changing the way we see the world could change the way we shape the future—and the bottom line? The viral campaign It Was Never A Dress transformed a simple bathroom sign into a bold statement about perception, possibility, and progress. By flipping the script on outdated symbols, we ignited a global conversation about diversity, inclusion, innovation, and impact.
In this high-energy, thought-provoking session, Tania Katan—the creative mind behind Axosoft’s It Was Never A Dress, author, and creativity expert—shares how rethinking the familiar unlocks new opportunities for businesses, communities, and personal agency. You’ll walk away with actionable strategies for fostering diverse perspectives, driving creativity, and turning small shifts into big change—leading to stronger teams, breakthrough ideas, and measurable success.
Research supports the business case for diversity: companies with greater gender diversity are 15% more likely to outperform their peers, and those with greater ethnic diversity are 35% more likely to do the same (McKinsey & Company)
If you’re ready to challenge assumptions, embrace bold ideas, and fuel a future of work that works for everyone, this talk is for you. Because it was never just a dress—it was always a call to think—and act—differently.
What if the key to innovation wasn’t working harder—but playing smarter? Creativity isn’t just for artists; it’s for anyone ready to shake up the status quo and turn everyday challenges into opportunities. As CEO of Creative Trespassing, Tania Katan has spent her career sneaking imagination and ingenuity into spaces that desperately need it—from corporations to nonprofits, boardrooms to breakrooms and the results were astounding! In this high-energy, laugh-out-loud session, Tania shares wildly entertaining stories, unconventional exercises, and just the right amount of inspirational shouting (GO get ‘em, Creative Tiger!) to help you break free from stale thinking. You’ll learn how to flex your creative muscles, inject humor into problem-solving, and turn constraints into catalysts for change. Whether you’re an individual looking for a creative spark or a leader seeking fresh approaches for your team, this talk will equip you with real tools to make work more imaginative, impactful, and—dare we say—fun.
In today’s turbulent times, leaders across all industries—from tech to the arts—are facing tectonic shifts in the modern workplace: AI, remote work, back to the office, pandemic, economic upheavals, layoffs, and uncertainty at every turn. Forbes recently wrote, “Creativity is the #1 skill we need to succeed in 2024-2028"—not just a nice-to-have, but as an essential tool for problem-solving and innovation across industries. In other words: Creativity is the North Star needed to navigate these challenges. In this interactive talk, Tania invites you to rediscover creativity not as a soft skill, but as a powerful tool for leadership, problem-solving, and innovation especially in the face of AI. And why NOW is the time to reclaim it. She will share how creative thinking—and doing—can play a critical part in transforming your leadership/team/organization in the face of workplace turbulence. WARNING: You might experience joy, laughter, and play, and still leave with three things you can do immediately to leverage the power of imagination to inspire and energize you, your teams, and entire organization for whatever lies ahead.
“Tania is an intelligent, personable, engaging storyteller/writer/human and a super conducting force for change! She and I have shared the stage twice – each time she has captivated the audience, nailed the key points, and received thunderous applause. She has a great sense of humor, does her homework and is a unique talent.”
"The energy Tania brings to the stage is infectious. She's as real as it gets and has zero ability to fake anything which makes her inspiring and born to mobilize crowds from the stage! Edutainment all the way. Anyone who gets to work with Tania...count yourself LUCKY!”
"It was pure joy having Tania deliver the keynote for our women@Google annual summit. She has a gift for drawing folks into her orbit. She was the highlight of everyone surveyed! Her approach is authentic and kind, with just the right dose of humor. I’m a Tania fan for life."
"We brought Tania in to speak about how we can use creativity to solve pressing problems. Not only did she deliver, but it was the most laughter I’ve heard from our teams in ages! Tania was undeniably engaging and made a connection with each and every person in the audience. I hope to bring her back again in the future.”
"When Tania spoke at my conference, Girls For Progress, she really impacted not only me, but everyone else there. She was really energetic and her speech shifted Girls For Progress, to Girls MAKING Progress! I am very fortunate and thankful she was able to speak and be a part of the conference."
"Tania is smart, fierce and fun. If harnessed, her creative energy could power the future. With her mind and heart, let’s hope she does."
“Tania is a brilliant speaker who enlivens any room with her wisdom and humor. She has an incredible ability to connect deeply with her audience and can get any group of people thinking and seeing things differently. Tania has been inspiring our conference attendees for six years now and is consistently one of the highest-rated speakers at our events.”
“From the stage Tania is able to connect with thousands of people on a personal level and before they know it they are hooked, they listen, they react, they trust. Tania ALSO listens, understands and applies all of her insights just for you.”
“Tania made the creative process feel enticing and totally accessible, tying the arts to technology, the act of writing to engineering. She was hilarious and engaging, somehow managing to be simultaneously self-deprecating and unapologetic on a range of topics covering gender, innovation, software, theater, creativity, problem solving and so much more."
“Tania is such a refreshing speaker! Our audience loved her keynote at the IT Summit and her engaging synergy from the stage. As an event planner, I was so happy that Tania was such a joy to work with. From the initial communication to organizing the day of the event and even when we threw in some unanticipated side events like a VIP rece
“Tania is such a refreshing speaker! Our audience loved her keynote at the IT Summit and her engaging synergy from the stage. As an event planner, I was so happy that Tania was such a joy to work with. From the initial communication to organizing the day of the event and even when we threw in some unanticipated side events like a VIP reception and book signing. She was always accommodating and a pleasure to have on the program.”
"Over 400 of us joined Tania Katan’s virtual talk during the height of the pandemic, and it was enlightening and funny! Great spin on finding different ways to look at work and life during this most trying time. Her message and presence were inspiring, positive and actionable, and that’s what we need now, more than ever.”
"We are a creative group at our core. However, with the ever-changing environment brought on by the pandemic, dispersed and hybrid work... we were struggling with inspiration. Enter Tania who was a beacon of hope and a huge ball of energy! She was exactly what we needed to get us on our feet, moving around, laughing, and thinking “inside
"We are a creative group at our core. However, with the ever-changing environment brought on by the pandemic, dispersed and hybrid work... we were struggling with inspiration. Enter Tania who was a beacon of hope and a huge ball of energy! She was exactly what we needed to get us on our feet, moving around, laughing, and thinking “inside the box.” While our creative juices were slightly rusty, she is credited with re-stimulating our brains and helping us to grow forward."
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